Unless the refin was done with the espress purpose of producing a museum-quality emulation of the original finish, down to the last detail, there are apt to be tell-tale signs that a refin was done, especially around the neck pocket and under the pickguard. Its interesting to note that nobody has ever attempted to tweak the neck relief without first detaching the neck to expose the truss-rod screw. By 1963, Fender had begun using paint sticks when bodies were being sprayed. The September 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now. In other words, the start of the L-Series. His research and comments will be well worth it when/if you go to list it at auction. Maybe Gruhn's can spot a multiple re-finish but I doubt most dealers here in UK couldn't. The first strat ever built is the serial 0100, which is owned by George Gruhn, a Nashville guitar expert and owner of Gruhns Guitars. Body Details: Alder solid body with "4-61" pencil date in middle pickup cavity. Cosmetic Condition: The guitar has moderate play wear. All the wiring appears factory original and theres the outline of a 50s-style shield on the underside of the 60s-style aluminium shield. Guitar.com is the worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. In contrast, the former Eric Johnson guitar is darker, much thicker in the midrange and extends lower. The acoustic tone is extremely airy, conspicuously bright and doesnt generate a lot of low end. The fretwork is faultless so good, in fact, that the perfectly smooth and flat fingerboard is the only real giveaway that any work has been done. A clear indication to the contrary is the way that the mint-hued but mint-condition pickguard has shrunk back very slightly, exposing the aluminium shield beneath and pulling the pickguard screws inwards. } The bridge and saddles are essentially factory fresh and there is not even a hint of corrosion on the vibrato block. No doubt a darkening of the clear coats has caused this change because under the pickguard and spring cover we can see what Surf Green must have looked like when it was freshly applied. Was The Fender Telecaster The First Electric Guitar? What Was The First Guitar Made By Fender? Personally, (I am not directing this at you whatsoever) I think the multi-refinish history thing is a load of bollocks. Most legit traders over here just accept it is a re-finish and that is the end of story! The answer to your immediate question can be found here. The Stratocasters first year of production was a watershed year in its development. The Fiesta Red 1961 model has a fairly standard weight for an alder-bodied, early-60s Strat, but you dont need weighing scales to discern that the korina instrument is lighter. If you want a real and workable idea of its value, pay for George Gruhn to do a full appraisal (like MONGOOZ said, above). +1 It's hard to set a value. Neck Thickness (IN): 1st- .80" 12th- .98". This item sold for $289.50 on the 1961 list. If you're unhappy with this refinish business, that's fine-but the current vintage guitar market places a high degree of value on originality and pedigree. Can You Learn Fingerstyle Guitar As A Beginner? The frets are small, vintage style with no play wear. They would not price the instrument less if it had been finished more than once assuming that it had been confirmed the body had not been destroyed and pieced back up, refilled cracks etc. Can You Learn Guitar At 20 Without Knowing Another Instrument? Get it authenticated and sell it-it'll bring in what it brings in. After its initial success, Fender introduced the Precision Bass (P-Bass), the first mass-produced electric bass. By any standards, the finish is in great shape for a 1961 Strat, but its obvious that this guitar has been well used in addition to being well loved. Its serendipitous that we get to try the Surf Green Strat while were in the process of working on a korina Epiphone Flying V. Korina is a light timber, which we have already noted, but experiences with the Flying V suggest it also has a very loud, bright and airy tone. We're only a click away. No one mentions the re-finish history when buying a vintage guitar from all of the big dealers. Can You Learn Guitar And Drums At The Same Time? The electric guitars dramatic shift in tone was a dramatic departure from the acoustic guitars traditional strum. There are few marks on the body, the pickguard is clean, and the electronics are in good condition. In contrast the 63 Surf Green is noticeably brighter, clearer and more spanky. However, where the green guitar snarls, the red guitar roars and we find each pickup setting distinct yet equally enjoyable. #tdi_204 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { If youve ever wondered whether vintage tone is in the wood or the pickups, this pair of custom-colour pre-CBS Fender Stratocasters may help settle the issue. Remember, this is the era before Fender began using Fullerplast. The colour of the body is somewhat unusual and it differs somewhat from what were used to seeing on more modern Surf Green guitars including Custom Shop Relics. The guitar plays well with low action. It varies in shade from dark chocolate brown to near ebony black, with vivid grain patterns in some areas. Custom color (or factory refin) is one thing, but twice refinished in a different than original color does not add value. When Was The First Electric Fender Guitar Made? Always attached on the bass side of the neck pocket, they allowed the person spraying the guitar to hold the body and alter the angle, and then hang the body up while the lacquer dried. Most don't have a clue anyway! background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/fender-pre-cbs-fiesta-red-strat-wear-on-contour@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; By Many continue to believe that the Fender Telecaster is the most important mass-produced solidbody electric guitar ever made. It may be a better idea to get an independent valuation and sell privately.". The switch from ash to alder was made to speed up the finishing process, and since korina is open pored like ash, it would have been a backwards step. Although we cannot state categorically that its an original factory finish, with its paint-free screw holes and very natural lacquer checking, we see nothing to indicate that it isnt. It looks and feels like an early 60s Strat but sounds and responds more like a mid-50s example, so cognitive dissonance abounds. They probably won't tell the next buyer that it is a multi-finish. Korina actually sounds way closer to swamp ash than alder, but its perhaps not as strong in the bass or as compressed and to our ears, its also the loudest of the two. Where the lacquer has chipped or rubbed away, you can see the yellow-stained alder beneath. Refinishes, changed wiring, refrets, etc. It could be that some korina was delivered by accident and Fender didnt want to waste it, or there was a temporary shortage of alder at Fenders timber suppliers. The January 2022 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! This Fiesta Red model from 1961 comes in its original candy-loaded brown Tolex case, along with a picture of Eric playing the guitar and a handwritten letter that confirms that not only did the star own and use it extensively on stage and in the studio, its one of the two favourite rosewood neck Strats hes ever owned. The frets are small, vintage style with no play wear. #tdi_203 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { Washburn, Bob Marley valued at 1.2 million. There are several versions of the Squier Stratocaster, ranging in price from $180 to $500. 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. Original wiring with black bobbin pickups and 1960-61 dated pots. How Much Can You Sell A Fender Stratocaster For? ($225,000 to $375,000) Reach Out to Asia Stratocatser $2,700,000. In contrast, Stratocasters from Fenders golden era are seldom associated with rarity because they were made in such huge numbers after all, ease of mass-production was kind of the point, and the genius of the instruments design. The December 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Following the comps on recent sales is a reasonable way to get a handle on values. There is some buckle rash on the back of the body. Many of the cars from the year 54 have been listed for $100,000 or more. background: url(https://guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/fender-pre-cbs-fiesta-red-strat-red-stained-alder@1400x1050.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; 1968 Fender Strat, Jimi Hendrix $2,000,000. Faint file marks are clearly visible and every fret is more or less flat across its entire width. I'm so glad you're aware of what you have. Having access to a closet classic in extremis also reveals other interesting details. Consequently, we can see that Fender levelled frets but didnt bother crowning them. They appraised a Tele that a guy found here at a yardsale a few years ago for $16000 but the guy sold it for $23000 at a vintage show. The October 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Since the saddles can corrode and tarnish far sooner than the automotive-quality chrome plating Fender used on bridge and jack plates, its possible that a previous owner decided to have the saddles re-plated to keep their appearance on a par with the rest of the guitar. If someone pays a huge amount of money for a guitar believing it to be all original based on information from the seller, and finds, after the sale, that such is not the case, criminal fraud charges against the seller may be forthcoming. However, there are many assumptions here about what people might say about value and about what potential buyers may, in turn, say to their buyers when they turn to sell. Leo Fender created the first solid-body electric spanish guitar prototype in 1949. That said, a pristine '61 all original with case might push $50,000 in this crazy market, so the $15K mark may not be far off here. As with first-issue books, the 1954 Stratocaster is the most collectible among all of the other models released during that time period. Potential bidders need to be prescreened for legitimacy. Mozartproject.org is a media and news platform that covers music genres, culture, fashion and the industry of entertainment. } Removing the paint stick would reveal a large area of bare wood inside the neck pocket and its helpful if youre trying to determine whether the body is ash or alder the two wood types commonly used for Stratocaster bodies back in the day. It looks nothing like the anaemic farmed fish, but surprisingly close to the wild Alaskan variety. Fretwire of a vintage sympathetic gauge was used and theres no evidence of sanding along the edges of the board or repaired chips on the top. That way, you will at least have some substantive point for bargaining when/if you go to sell. The highest value is placed on virginity in this market, and it is raised to the level of fetish. $20K+ easily. What Year Stratocaster Is The Most Valuable? From $6,500 to $150,000, according to our research, were the 1950s Fender Stratocasters worth the most money. There is finish checking all over the body. After that, the Stratocaster was released in spring 1954 as Fenders new top-line guitar, with a tremolo and a non-tembol version. According to vintage expert George Gruhn, a 0100 Stratocaster was the first model produced in April 1954, which was dubbed 0100. Despite the fact that there have been a few prototypes, this model is the first to come with a serial number. In a straight shootout, the sonic differences between korina and alder are clear and obvious. Thanks for your advice. Provenance and documentation need to be airtight. A couple of modifications have been made to the wiring and components. Pickup Measurements: neck 6.0k ohms middle 5.8k ohms bridge 6.3k ohms. Can I still be pregnant after heavy bleeding? will all detract from the value of the guitar when it is compared to pristine instruments of the same model and era-which will obviously draw the highest prices.